Two more swine flu cases in Vail Valley

A Vail Valley man and woman who caught swine flu have already recovered, Eagle County officials announced Thursday afternoon.

Neither of residents, both of whom are in their 20s, was hospitalized and the cases appear unrelated. They are second and third cases of the H1N1 virus, and neither seems related to the first case, which was announced Monday.

The woman is an employee of the Eagle County School District, schools spokesman Matt Earle said.

“Public health said there’s very little chance of it being spread because employee took precautions and decided to stay home,” Earle said.

The district is sending a letter home with parents, but has no plans to close schools, Earle said.

The National Centers for Disease Control has recommended district not close schools where there are cases of swine flu.

Earle did not say which school the woman worked at, nor what her job was, but said the district was taking the extra precaution of cleaning the school. The woman will not return to work until she is symptom free, Earle said.

County Epidemiologist Becky Larson says she’s not surprised by the additional cases.

“Once our first instance of H1N1 appeared in the county, it was only a matter of time before we saw additional cases,” said Larson. “It does not change our response to illness or our message to the community ” which is to wash your hands, cover your coughs and sneezes, stay home if you are sick and keep a reasonable distance from those who are ill.”